Rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Zagreb schools has revealed the presence of the novel virus in 1.6% of pupils and 3.3% of school staff tested, the city authorities said on Monday evening.

The purpose of the testing was to show the current presence of antigens in pupils and staff in selected primary and secondary schools in Zagreb. The testing was conducted in 12 primary schools (Grades 5-8) and seven secondary schools between November 30 and December 4.

All pupils in these schools, whose classes were not in self-isolation at the time, were invited to do a test, and 1,925 pupils did so. They included 1,073 primary school pupils (40.1%) and 852 secondary school students (33.1%).

Negative results were not additionally verified, while positive results were sent for further verification by PCR testing.

The presence of coronavirus antigens was found in 31 pupils (1.6% of the pupils tested), of whom 19 were secondary school pupils and 12 were primary school pupils.

In six of the primary schools none of the pupils tested had a positive result, while in the remaining six schools up to three pupils were positive.

In two of the secondary schools none of the students had a positive result, while in the remaining five schools up to seven students were positive.

The primary school pupils tested accounted for 26.9% of the Grade 5-8 pupils in the selected schools, while the secondary school students tested accounted for 20.6% of students in their schools.

School staff who were not in isolation or self-isolation at the time were also invited to do a test, and 365 did so. Twelve of them (3.3%) were positive for the coronavirus and most of them were secondary school staff.